Local leadership strengthened with new Chief Finance Officer
Summary
A long-time Mount Isa local with more than a decade of experience at North West Hospital and Health Service has been appointed Chief Finance Officer, bringing deep local knowledge and a strong connection to the Health Service to the executive leadership team.
A long-time Mount Isa local with more than a decade of experience at North West Hospital and Health Service has been appointed Chief Finance Officer, bringing deep local knowledge and a strong connection to the Health Service to the executive leadership team.
Jessie Henderson has called Mount Isa home for more than 30 years, after moving to the city with her family at the age of three.
She attended school in Mount Isa before leaving to study and begin her career in Brisbane, returning home in 2015. Since then, she and her husband have raised their three children in Mount Isa.
Her connection to the Health Service stretches back even further.
With her mother working at Mount Isa Hospital, Mrs Henderson worked after school, even completing a medical typing course so she could lend a hand in the hospital's Radiology Department.
Mrs Henderson formally joined North West HHS in 2015 as a Finance Officer and has since progressed through roles including Management Accountant and Director of Finance, as well as acting as Chief Finance Officer on several occasions.
North West Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Andrew Quabba said the appointment brought both continuity and strong local knowledge to the executive leadership team.
“We have a strong focus on building our local workforce, and Jessie’s progression through the Health Service from Finance Officer to CFO is a great example of that,” Mr Quabba said.
“Her experience within the organisation, combined with her deep understanding of the North West, brings valuable continuity and local knowledge to our executive leadership team.”
Mrs Henderson said her connection to both the Health Service and the community would shape how she approached the role.
“I have lived in Mount Isa for most of my life and understand just how important strong local health services are to our community,” Mrs Henderson said.
“For me, this is an opportunity to give back to a Health Service and a community that have given so much to my family and me over the years.
“The financial decisions we make directly support our clinicians to have the resources they need and ultimately influence the health services we can provide locally.”
A qualified accountant who worked in insolvency before joining North West HHS, Mrs Henderson said her priority would be providing continuity and consistency while strengthening Finance's role as an enabling function across the organisation.
“Delivering health care across a region as large and remote as the North West is incredibly complex, and Finance is ultimately here to support our clinical teams to do that,” she said.
“Strong financial leadership means making sure our resources are used effectively so our clinicians can continue delivering high-quality care to communities across the North West.
“I'm looking forward to building stronger engagement across the organisation and providing collaborative leadership across Finance, Health Information, Infrastructure, Procurement and ICT.”
Jessie Henderson will commence as Chief Finance Officer on 14 September.